Chapter 470: The Pay-to-Win Palace Intrigue System (5)

For the next few days, Xie San was in no mood to go anywhere, not even to the literary tea gatherings; he stayed home to train the servants he had just purchased.

He did not expect to be unable to find a moment of leisure:

"Third Master, the Dong Fu on South Street has sent two loads of thank-you gifts. This is the gift list; please look it over, Third Master."

"Third Master, the He clan on East Street has sent seasonal fruits and vegetables from their own Farm, along with several loads of game."

"Third Master,..."

The gatekeepers came one after another to report.

The courtyard of the Third Branch was piled high with loads of thank-you gifts.

Xie San was initially completely bewildered.

Thank-you gifts?

What thank-you gifts?

Had he helped someone without realizing it?

It was not until he read the notes sent with the gifts that he understood the reason.

It turned out that the families of the other eight rescued children were deeply grateful to the "Thousand-Faced Holy Nun" and wanted to reward her, but could not find her. Thinking that Xie San's daughter had been taken as an apprentice by the "Thousand-Faced Holy Nun," they simply sent the thank-you gifts to him.

This was the first time Xie San had received gifts specifically addressed to his Third Branch; for the past few days, he walked with a spring in his step, and whenever he spoke to his two older brothers, he held his chin high and kept a smirk on his face.

"Oh my, who would have thought! My Yang Er is only three, and I, as her father, am already enjoying the blessings she brings! Eldest Brother, my eldest niece has been in the palace for nearly three years, right? Has she sent you any food or supplies unique to the palace?"

The Eldest Master was choked speechless: "..."

It really did not compare.

Not only had his daughter Ping Er never sent anything home, but for the past year, she had frequently sent letters asking the family to send her Silver. He did not know what her situation was in the palace, or why she was so short of money.

But thinking that over this past year, Ping Er had not only been promoted in rank but had also conceived a Dragon Fetus, he figured it must be the result of that Silver.

Fortunately, the Old Matriarch knew about this matter, and it was handled through the family treasury without letting the two younger brothers know.

Otherwise, the private treasury of the First Branch could never have withstood such large expenses.

But did he dare to say this truthfully?

He definitely could not say it!

If he said it, his two younger brothers would likely clamor to split the family estate.

Xie San did not know what the eldest was thinking, and after showing off, he went to find the second brother to flaunt:

"Second Brother, how long has it been since my second and third nieces returned to their maiden home? Why don't you bring them and their husbands back to see you, their father-in-law? What? Did their mother-in-law stop them from coming? Afraid the expenses would be too high? Tsk! They really aren't as good as my Yang Er!"

"..."

Lao San even prided himself on being a man of letters, yet his words were sharp and biting, piercing the heart with every syllable.

The Second Master took a deep breath: "Lao San, those thank-you gifts are merely passing through your hands; they were sent to the 'Thousand-Faced Holy Nun'."

"That is true, but Yang Er's master is not here, is she? These seasonal fruits and vegetables won't last long, so we can only do the favor on her behalf."

In fact, on the night the thank-you gifts were received, a dart-letter appeared in Xie San's study once again.

The "Thousand-Faced Holy Nun" said she had received the sentiment and entrusted him to handle the thank-you gifts on her behalf.

Was this not enjoying his daughter's blessings in advance!

"Second Brother, you aren't jealous of your younger brother, are you? Hahahaha..."

"..."

The Third Mistress was organizing the thank-you gifts sent by the eight families with her dowry maids and the newly purchased servants.

After totaling them up, she found there were quite a lot.

The most valuable were the few high-quality furs and two stalks of mountain ginseng, followed by brocades, fabrics, and fine wine.

Then there were various smoked and cured pheasant, rabbit meat, roe deer meat, and whole sides of fresh Pork and mutton.

Melons, fruits, vegetables, and chicken, duck, and goose eggs were there by the basketful.

Although they paled in comparison to the gift lists exchanged between noble families, they had the advantage of being practical!

Fresh seasonal melons, fruits, and vegetables, along with a rich variety of meat, eggs, and game, could add many dishes to the Third Branch's dining table.

Although the Xie family had not split the estate, they each had their own small kitchens.

Unless it was an important or slow holiday, or the Old Matriarch called the younger generation over to dine with her, most of the time, each branch served meals in their own courtyards.

Of course, all items such as ingredients and seasonings were paid for by the family, and the quotas were set by headcount.

If any branch felt the ingredients provided were not good enough or not enough to eat, they would have to spend their own Silver to purchase them outside.

Therefore, having received so many ingredients at once, how could the couple of the Third Branch think these gifts were not presentable? They only felt they were enjoying their daughter's blessings.

Of course, a portion still had to be sent to the Old Matriarch, as a gesture of filial piety from her granddaughter.

The First and Second Branches were each given two baskets of melons and vegetables and two baskets of meat and eggs as a token.

As for the rest that could be kept longer, the Third Branch would naturally keep them to enjoy slowly.

"Father, is the Thousand-Faced Holy Nun very famous in the pugilistic world?"

Xie Jing tasted the dish made from the game, thinking of his younger sister who had been taken away by the swordswoman; he was both worried about his sister and curious about her master.

"That's right, Father, what is the background of Yang Er's master? How come I have never heard of such a person in the pugilistic world?" thirteen-year-old Xie Jin also asked curiously.

Since he was young, he loved going to teahouses to listen to storytelling and was full of longing for the pugilistic world; upon learning that his sister had been taken as an apprentice by a pugilistic swordswoman, he was so envious he could almost swallow himself.

"You have never roamed the pugilistic world, so how would you know if there is such a person in it?" Xie San glanced at his second son.

"That's right, Fifth Brother, you aren't a pugilistic hero either." Nine-year-old Xie Jue held a pheasant leg, nibbling on it while giggling and teasing his own brother.

Xie Jin rolled his eyes: "I am not, but I know plenty of heroes!"

"Knowing many doesn't mean you know all of them." Xie Jue made a face at him, "You don't know sister's master."

"..."

Xie Yang did not yet know that the heroic maiden title she had casually fabricated had caused the two older brothers at home to bicker.

At this moment, she was resting and soaking in a bath at an inn in a small town seven or eight hundred li away from Jingcheng.

Having a Robot Bodyguard with an ancient heroic maiden skin was actually quite useful.

Stopping for meals and lodging could not be more convenient.

Martial arts experts who could easily glide over water or leap several li in a single bound were, after all, a minority, so when ordinary people saw a heroic maiden wearing a veil hat and carrying a long sword appear while "using light-body techniques," they dared not offend her lightly.

Therefore, as the "heroic maiden's disciple," Xie Yang was naturally treated with the most enthusiastic service by everyone at the inn, from the proprietor down to the waiter.

Of course, it also had to do with her looking fair, chubby, and cheerful.

After entering Tianzi Yihao Fang, Xie Yang waited for the Robot Bodyguard to prepare all the bathing supplies, then stored it into the space provided by the Main System, drank a cup of warm water, and climbed into the bathtub to soak in a hot bath.

The little person was short, so a high-legged stool was placed in the bathtub; sitting on the stool, her head leaned back just right against the rim of the tub.

Soaking in the warm water, Xie Yang let out a comfortable sigh.

The reason she did not go home immediately was, first, to take the opportunity to establish the persona of a heroic maiden's disciple for this small body, so as to facilitate her future actions.

After all, she had transmigrated into a three-year-old toddler, and in the intricate and complex inner chambers of a marquis's household, she was the youngest among the masters, meaning anyone could step on her.

Although Xie San and his wife doted on her, there were some things that could not be avoided just by relying on parental love.

For example, her future marriage.

Even if the era she lived in made it impossible to avoid marriage, she still wanted to marry a husband who was to her liking in every aspect.